Over 13 million Americans struggle each day to be the best single parent they can. It can be a thankless job and one that requires an entire set of financial tools that couples rarely face. This column is dedicated to helping the single parent cope.

Twenty-five percent of children under the age of 18 in the U.S. are being raised without a Dad. That's not to say that there aren't plenty of single fathers bringing up children, but the facts are that the majority (80 percent) of single parents in this country are women. Nearly half of them live below the poverty line. Here's how you can avoid that fate.

The first change you must make is in developing a new attitude toward life

Lt. Colonel Thomas Grady told the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee about the training on Wednesday. LENOX, Mass. — An upcoming training session is eyed to prepare local emergency responders in what to do should there be a terrorist attack. The Western Region Homeland Security Advisory Council is using federal dollars to put on training seminars in all four Western Massachusetts counties. Agencies from across Berkshire County will participate in the daylong tabletop exercise on April 8 that will test their response to a terrorist planting a bomb at a local rail yard. "This is the first terrorism-focused exercise we've

Jobsby bananas210:53AM / Sunday, April 01, 2012Instead of bickering about parking get a industry in North Adams with higher paying jobs than all the service jobs we have now. Is anyone on the commitee out there looking for any industries to come

A nonprofit group is hoping to return concerts and other performances to the third-floor dance halls of the historic brick Wood Block building.

HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. — The Preservation League of New York State has awarded a $6,300 grant to the non-profit CiviCure organization to help preserve the Wood Block building.

The grant was presented at a board meeting of CiviCure on March 2. The grant is the fourth made from the Donald Stephen Gratz Preservation Services Fund of the Preservation League of New York State. CiviCure's mission is the "revitalization of the Hoosick economy through active stewardship of our rich heritage and rural environs and the art inspired by

North Adams Happenings Brought to you by the MCLA Berkshire Cultural Resource Center and the North Adams Office of Tourism & Community Events Wednesday, March 18th - Tuesday, March 24th Save the Date Wednesday, March

ADAMS, Mass. – The employees of Adams Community Bank are on a mission to show how much they care about those within the community affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Their fundraising efforts will benefit two really special local organizations – Moments House and PopCares.

To begin their fundraising initiatives for their new endeavor, they will be hosting “Happy Uno de Mayo,” a Mexican Night at the Richmond Grille at the Holiday Inn in North Adams, on Friday, May 1. The event will offer margarita and sangria tasting and Mexican food stations. The cost of the event is $20 and all of the proceeds raised will go directly to Moments House and PopCares, Inc.

Gailanne Cariddi's bill would create tax incentives to bring new jobs to certain areas of the state. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi wants to give new businesses a little extra incentive to open in areas that could use more jobs. The North Adams Democrat has introduced a bill to create a tax increment financing program for new businesses. The bill would forgive state taxes such as sales tax on new equipment, personal income taxes, state fees and corporate taxes over a decade with the company paying a little bit more of the tax burden each year. "We really could use new businesses in [North Adams]. I want to help start new businesses

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials are pondering how to address an 11 percent increase in the 2016 budget, a jump of $342,399.

The first place they're looking is the school budget.

Reviewing a very preliminary budget on Monday night, the Finance Committee and Selectmen said they will be looking at ways to reduce the increase without overly relying on the town's recent boost in free cash.

"I know I've said it before ... we shouldn't use free cash as a slush fund," Finance Committee Chairman Mark Denault said.

The town now has about $478,000 in free cash on hand, the result of several

CHESHIRE, Mass. -- The Northern Berkshire Hurricane Youth Lacrosse program will hold a meeting on Wednesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. at Hoosac Valley Middle and High School for any prospective players. The program welcomes players in third through eighth grade, both girls and boys. Kids are welcome from not only the Adams/Cheshire/Savoy region, but North Adams, Clarksburg, Florida, and Stamford, Vt. There are three divisions within the program: 3rd & 4th grade, 5th & 6th grade, and 7th & 8th grade. The league allows players the flexibility to participate in both lacrosse and baseball or softball. The season begins the beginning of April and lasts until mid June;

Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 9. Andre Austin, 28, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute - his second offense - illegal ownership of a firearm, improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction for a violent crime or drug offense, and resisting arrest. He was ordered to serve concurrent three and a half to five and a half year sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on the possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm with a prior conviction